Sun Dec 01 03:20:00 UTC 2024: ## White Supremacist Pleads Not Guilty in Montana Killing, Claims Self-Defense
**Bozeman, MT** – Daren Christopher Abbey, 41, a self-described white supremacist, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence in the death of Dustin Kjersem, 35. Abbey claims self-defense in the October killing, which was initially reported as a bear attack.
Kjersem’s body was discovered in a tent near Big Sky, south of Bozeman. However, evidence found at the scene, including beer cans and shot glasses, indicated another person was present. DNA on a beer can linked Abbey to the crime scene.
Abbey’s account of the events to investigators contains inconsistencies, according to authorities. He stated that Kjersem threatened him and his dog with a gun, prompting him to attack Kjersem with a block of wood, screwdriver, and axe. He initially omitted mentioning the axe to investigators and offered conflicting accounts of where he found it. Abbey also admitted to cleaning the murder weapons, stealing beer, guns, cell phones, and other items from the scene, and returning the next day to retrieve a beanie. He explained his failure to report the incident due to his prior felony record.
Court records reveal Abbey’s affiliation with white supremacist groups, as indicated by his inmate information and tattoos, which include an iron cross with a swastika. He is currently being held on $1.5 million bail. The investigation continues, with discrepancies in Abbey’s statement prompting further scrutiny from law enforcement.
First Piper 